Foreign trade - Exports
During the first semester of 1999,
Colombian exports reached US$5.2 billion, 5.1% less than that in June 1998. This behavior
is primarily explained by US$185 million (6.6%) drop in non-traditional external sales,
while traditional exports fell by US$96 million (3.6%). The reduction in exports of
non-traditional goods was due to the decline in the sales of industrial goods, especially
food, beverages and tobacco, transport, machinery and equipment. On the contrary,
agricultural exports grew by US$38 million, particularly bananas, fruits and vegetables
and tobacco; external sales of mining goods grew by US$17 million. On the other hand,
lower traditional exports is the result of the falling of coffee (US$325 million), coal
(US$76 million), gold (US$14 million) and nickel (US$7 million) sales, primarily, as a
result of low international prices. The United States was the main destination for
Colombian exports, purchasing 46.3% of the total, followed by the European Union with
17.6% and the Andean Group with 14.2%. For 1999, exports are expected to grow by 5.7%.
EXPORTS
EXPORTS |
1999* % |
U.S.A. |
46.3 |
EUROPEAN UNION |
17.6 |
ANDEAN GROUP |
14.2 |
JAPAN |
2.6 |
REST |
19.3 |
* Up to June |
|
|
US$ Millions FOB
YEARS |
Total
exports |
Variation
% |
Non
traditional exports |
Variation
% |
Traditional
exports |
Variation
% |
1987 |
4,914.5 |
-2.9 |
1,555.7 |
14.4 |
3,358.8 |
-9.2 |
1988 |
4,964.9 |
1.0 |
1,870.9 |
20.3 |
3,094.0 |
-7.9 |
1989 |
5,710.9 |
15.0 |
2,147.8 |
14.8 |
3,563.1 |
15.2 |
1990 |
6,720.6 |
17.7 |
2,664.3 |
24.0 |
4,056.3 |
13.8 |
1991 |
7,113.8 |
5.9 |
3,543.2 |
33.0 |
3,570.6 |
-12.0 |
1992 |
6,900.0 |
-3.0 |
3,564.6 |
0.6 |
3,335.4 |
-6.6 |
1993 |
7,115.9 |
3.1 |
3,984.4 |
11.8 |
3,131.5 |
-6.1 |
1994 |
8,478.8 |
19.2 |
4,469.2 |
12.2 |
4,009.6 |
28.0 |
1995 |
10,125.9 |
19.4 |
5,160.2 |
15.5 |
4,965.7 |
23.8 |
1996 |
10,586.9 |
4.6 |
4,896.1 |
-5.1 |
5,690.8 |
14.6 |
1997 |
11,630.5 |
7.2 |
5,542.1 |
6.9 |
6,088.4 |
7.4 |
1998 p |
10,852.1 |
-6.7 |
5,134.7 |
-7.4 |
5,717.4 |
-6.1 |
1998 p* |
5,502.0 |
-0.7 |
2,821.3 |
9.5 |
2,680.7 |
-9.6 |
1999 p* |
5,221.0 |
-5.1 |
2,636.4 |
-6.6 |
2,584.6 |
-3.6 |
|
p: Provisional.
* Up to June.
Source: National Administrative Department of Statistics(DANE). |
